Pubdate: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 Source: White Lake Beacon (MI) Copyright: 2011 Shoreline Media, Inc. Contact: http://www.whitelakebeacon.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5038 Authors: John Keene, Mark Lewis Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/medical+marijuana+moratorium CANNABIS MORATORIUMS PASSED White River and Fruitland Townships Approve Six-Month Hold The sale or dispersion of medical marijuana in White River Township has been put on a six-month moratorium. An ordinance to impose the moratorium was unanimously approved at the Jan. 12 White River Township Board of Trustees meeting. Under the moratorium the township cannot issue permits, licenses or approvals for the sale or dispensation of medical marijuana, and it prohibits the sale medical marijuana. According to the ordinance provided by White River Township, "the Township's Zoning Ordinance and other ordinances have not kept pace with recent developments and the passing into law of Initiated Law 1 of 2008, the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act." The township stated that it is within its right and authority to establish reasonable regulations to control the sale and dispersion of medical marijuana to protect the public health, safety and welfare in a manner consistent with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. However, such prohibitions will not apply to direct dispensation by a primary caregiver of marijuana to that primary caregiver's registered qualifying patient if fully lawful under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. Accepting a nearly unanimous recommendation from the planning commission, the Fruitland Township board approved Wednesday to place a six-month moratorium on issuing permits allowing for the sale or dispensation of medical marijuana in the township. Under the ordinance, which passed by a 6-1 vote (board member Gary Bole cast the lone 'no' vote), dispensaries will not be allowed to cater to those with state and doctor-approved medical marijuana prescriptions under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, which was passed by voters in November 2008 by 63 percent of the vote. According to the initiative's language, the law is meant to "allow under state law the medical use of marihuana; to provide protections for the medical use of marihuana; to provide for a system of registry identification cards for qualifying patients and primary caregivers; to impose a fee for registry application and renewal; to provide for the promulgation of rules; to provide for the administration of this act; to provide for enforcement of this act; to provide for affirmative defenses; and to provide for penalties for violations of this act." has been put on a six-month moratorium. An ordinance to impose the moratorium was unanimously approved at the Jan. 12 White River Township Board of Trustees meeting. Under the moratorium the township cannot issue permits, licenses or approvals for the sale or dispensation of medical marijuana, and it prohibits the sale medical marijuana. According to the ordinance provided by White River Township, "the Township's Zoning Ordinance and other ordinances have not kept pace with recent developments and the passing into law of Initiated Law 1 of 2008, the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act." The township stated that it is within its right and authority to establish reasonable regulations to control the sale and dispersion of medical marijuana to protect the public health, safety and welfare in a manner consistent with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. However, such prohibitions will not apply to direct dispensation by a primary caregiver of marijuana to that primary caregiver's registered qualifying patient if fully lawful under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. Accepting a nearly unanimous recommendation from the planning commission, the Fruitland Township board approved Wednesday to place a six-month moratorium on issuing permits allowing for the sale or dispensation of medical marijuana in the township. Under the ordinance, which passed by a 6-1 vote (board member Gary Bole cast the lone 'no' vote), dispensaries will not be allowed to cater to those with state and doctor-approved medical marijuana prescriptions under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, which was passed by voters in November 2008 by 63 percent of the vote. According to the initiative's language, the law is meant to "allow under state law the medical use of marihuana; to provide protections for the medical use of marihuana; to provide for a system of registry identification cards for qualifying patients and primary caregivers; to impose a fee for registry application and renewal; to provide for the promulgation of rules; to provide for the administration of this act; to provide for enforcement of this act; to provide for affirmative defenses; and to provide for penalties for violations of this act." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake